£ibrar^  of  t:he  trheolo^icd  ^tmimvy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.    LeFevre 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2009  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/briefsketchoflifOOdayt 


REV.    CYRUS    J.    BURKERT 


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FEB  11  1953 


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^^ITTLE  need  be  said  as  an  introduction  to  the  following 
"^^  pages.  The  Booklet  has  been  prepared  rather  as  an 
expression  of  the  loving  appreciation  of  the  life,  character, 
labor  and  fellowship  of  Mr.  Burkert,  than  an  effort  to  give 
him  notoriety  and  praise  in  the  world.  He  needs  no  such 
certificate  or  recommendation.  His  life  was  an  open  book, 
and  his  record  is  on  high.  The  memory  of  his  life  is  em- 
balmed in  the  hearts  of  the  hundreds  of  his  fellow  workers  in 
the  gospel,  and  in  the  affections  of  the  thousands  who  waited 
regularly  on  his  ministry,  and  there  it  will  abide  forever.  The 
various  papers  read  at  his  funeral  are  given,  as  they  were 
delivered,  as  nearly  as  practicable.  Where  they  interlocked 
or  repeated  the  same  thing,  omissions  and  interlineations  have 
been  made,  and  statistics,  not  resolved  on  the  funeral  oc- 
casion, have  been  carefully  revised.  It  is  hoped  these  pages 
will  help  every  reader  to  purer  thoughts,  nobler  deeds,  and 
especially  to  a  more  devoted  service  in  the  vineyard  of  our 
Lord. 
Dayton.  O.,  July  1,  1906.  WM.  McKEE. 


On  the  morning  of  the  funeral  services  the  ministers 
of  the  Miami  Conference  (nearly  all  of  them  present)  met  in 
the  lecture  room  of  Summit  St.  Church  and  with  one  voice 
adopted  the  following  paper: 

The  ministers  of  Miami  Conference  hereby  express 
their  sorrow  and  sense  of  great  loss  in  the  sudden  and  unex- 
pected passing  away  of  our  dear  brother  and  fellow  laborer 
in  the  gospel,  the  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert;  but  at  the  same  time 
we  record  our  comfort  and  satisfaction  as  we  contemplate  his 
fellowship,  his  earnest  and  varied  and  useful  services  to  the 
church  and  to  the  world  for  the  forty  years  of  his  continuous 
itinerant  life;  and  that  now,  though  dead,  he  yet  speaks  to  us 
of  righteousness,  of  the  love  of  God,  and  of  the  eternal  bless- 
edness of  the  saints  in  light. 

We  tender  to  his  beloved  wife  and  sons  and  other  rel- 
atives our  heartfelt  sympathy  and  condolence,  and  pray  that 
they  may  have  divine  guidance  and  strength  in  this  time  of 
great  bereavement ;  and  further,  that  the  example  and  teach- 
ings and  prayers  of  this  dear  husband  and  father  may  be  to 
them  an  abiding  inheritance  and  keep  them  in  gracious  fellow- 
ship with  Him  whose  blood  speaketh  better  things  than  that 
of  Abel. 


We  unite  our  testimony  with  that  of  all  Christians  and 
non-Christians  who  enjoyed  his  acquaintance  and  association 
to  the  nobility  of  his  character,  the  uprightness  of  his  life,  and 
his  neighborly  kindness  to  all  who  were  in  distress,  which 
characterized  his  daily  communications  with  his  fellows,  and 
to  his  unswerving  loyalty  and  love  and  labors  to  the  church 
of  his  choice.  "Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let 
my  last  end  be  like  his." 

(  W.  McKEE, 

Committee^  W.  J.  SHUEY, 

(W.VANSICKLE. 

Dayton,  O.,  Nov.  12,  1905. 


On  Sunday  morning,  November  12th,  1905,  at  an  hour, 
which,  for  a  period  of  more  than  two  score  years,  the  same 
time  had  been  occupied  in  preparation  and  devotion  for 
the  services  of  the  day,  the  Death  Angel,  on  swift  but 
gentle  wings,   bore   our  loved   one   from   us. 

"O  sacred  hour,  O,  hallowed  spot,"  made  so  by  a  ces- 
sation of  suffering  and  entering  into  that  "deliverance" 
which  is  rest  everlasting. 

********** 

"Away!    ye  know  that  tears  are  vain. 

That    death    nor    heeds    nor    hears    distress. 

Will    this    unteach    us    to    complain? 

Or  make   one   mourner   weep   the   less? 

And   thou   who   tell'st   us   to   forget — 

Thy  looks  are  wan,   thine  eyes  are  wet? 

But   wherefore   weep,    his   matchless   spirit   soars 

Beyond   where   splendid   shines   the   orb   of  day, 

And  guardian  angels  lead  him  to  those  bowers 

Where    endless    pleasures    virtues    deeds    repay. 

Yet   in   remembrance   of  those   virtues   dear, 
Yet   fresh  the  memory  of  that  beauteous   face, 
Still   they  call  forth  our  warm  affections  tear, 
Still   in   our   hearts   retain   their   wonted   place. 


The  closing  days  of  Mr.  Burkert's  life  were  full  of  con- 
solation to  the  family.  He  was  so  resigned,  and  the  Savior 
so  near,  when  able  to  speak,  he  directed  as  was  his  custom. 
He  knew  his  condition  and  realized  that  human  aid  was 
powerless,  but  the  Great  Physician  with  whom  he  was 
keeping  counsel  enabled  him  to  retain  his  brave  and  cheer- 
ful   spirit,    never   speaking   of   his   own    sufferings. 


To  those  permitted  to  minister  to  his  comforts,  he  was 
most  solicitous.  For  some  months  we  had  observed  with 
increasing  apprehension,  and  constant  solicitude,  the  in- 
road which  a  fearful  malady  was  making  on  his  strength. 
When  advised  and  importuned  that  he  drop  the  care  and 
be  relieved  from  serving  in  the  various  interests  of  the  church 
his  reply  was,  "I  don't  seem  to  have  time.  Am  not  sick, 
only  weak."  He  lived  in  close  communion  with  the  Lord, 
and  "Loved  to  tell  the  Story"  so  well,  that  even  at  times 
our  hearts  were  thrilled  within  us  to  witness  such  a  mani- 
festation of  supernatural  strength.  But  the  time  was 
nearing — and  in  the  quiet  of  the  morning  hour  a  great  shock 
was  realized  and  he  "wrapped  the  drapery  of  his  couch  about 
him,  and  laid  him  down,  like  one  to  pleasant  dreams." 

On  several  occasions,  when  too  weak  to  talk  except 
at  intervals,  he  asked  to  be  remembered  to  those  who  were 
extending  their  sympathy,  and  rendering  help  in  various 
ways.  His  condition  demanded  extreme  quiet,  but  as  he 
was  able,  left  many  messages  of  thankfulness  and  appre- 
ciation. 

The  household  consisted  of  himself,  wife,  two  sons 
— William  and  George — their  wives,  Mabel  and  Ruth,  and 
four  grandchildren. 

In  the  privacy  of  the  home  all  the  loving  and  tender 
care  of  a  husband  and  father  was  characteristic,  having 
in  return  their  perfect  devotion  and  love.  The  visits  from 
the  grandchildren  were  looked  forward  to  with  delight  by 
all.  All  the  members  of  the  family  were  to  him  as  his  own. 
It  was  very  gratifying  to  him  to  have  the  children  accom- 
pany him  in  walks  or  drives,  that  they  might  develop  in- 
to the  greater  life  suited  for  the  age  in  which  they  were 
living.  It  was  on  one  of  these  occasions  that  he  took  with 
him  his  only  grandson,  Robert,  on  an  inspection  tour  through 
our  new  Publishing  House  building,  which  was  then  in 
progress  of  erection,  and  from  which  we  are  now  privileged 
to  present  to  you  this  picture,  which  is  most  highly  prized. 

Nor  was  this  home  a  selfish  one.  Others  found  in  it 
the  atmosphere  of     ease  and  comfort.     Many  have  shared 


its  hospitality.  Has  there  not  gone  out  from  this  Home 
Altar  blessings  that  have  enriched  the  lives  of  others  less 
fortunate?  Do  not  the  deepest  emotions  of  sorrow  over- 
flow the  soul  when  the  absence  of  one  always  on  the  thres- 
hold is  fully  realized?  But  we  draw  the  veil  lest  we  detract 
from  the  sacredness  and  happiness  afforded  those  permitted 
to  enjoy  this  great  privilege.  There  is  a  heaven  of  our 
hopes,  and  we  will  not  be  disappointed,  but  meet  the  God 
we  love,   and  our  own  now  there. 


'Twill    not    be    long — This    wearying    commotion, 
That  marks   the   passage  in   the   htunan   breast. 
And  like  the  billows  in  the  heaving  ocean. 
That  ever  rock  the  cradle  of  unrest 
Will    soon   subside;     the   happy   time   is   nearing 
When  bliss,  not  pain,  will  have  its  rich  increase. 
E'en   unto   Thee,   the   dove  may  now  be   steering, 
With    gracious   message — Wait    and   hold   thy   peace 
'Twill    not   be    long." 


There  are  some  sorrows  which  in  silence  and  darkness 
we    must    bear    alone. 

There  are  others  which  will  stand  the  light  of  day, 
though  the  silence  and  darkness  are  still  in  our  hearts. 

Then  there  is  melody  and  light,  and  the  hands  of  friends, 
— the  mortals  whom  He  has  inspired  to  heal  the  weary  heart, 
and  ease  the  tired  soul — we  thank  God  and  its  ministers. 

Time  judges  a  man  and  a  people  and  the  verdict  of 
time  must  be   his  loved  ones.     Thanks. 

THE  FAMILY. 
J.   D.  HOLTZINGER. 

Know  ye  not  that  a  Prince  and  a  great  man  has  fallen 
this  day  in  Israel. — ii  Samuel  J-J^. 

A  PICTURE  OF  HIS  LIFE. 

He  stood  a  man  with  his  face  to  the  front  amidst  the 
natural  intellectual  and  moral  elements  for  the  last  half 
century.  His  life  was  written  on  the  ascending  Scale,  ac- 
cording to  God's  order  from  the  lower  to  the  higher. 


SUMMIT    STREET    CHURCH.    DAYTON,    OHIO 


His  character  and  work  were  an  inspiration.  He  un- 
consciously drew  ten  thousand  hearts  about  him  in  con- 
stellation like  stars  along  the  firmament,  hearts  that  beat 
in  harmony  with  a  great  soul.  Because  he  was  a  careful 
student  of  human  nature  he  knew  men  and  won  them. 

Here  we  find  a  key  to  his  popularity  and  success  in 
the  pulpit.  He  possessed  superior  ability  as  a  sermonizer. 
He  was  at  home  amid  the  pages  of  the  Bible  and  exercised 
rare  judgment  in  applying  scripture.  In  constructing  ser- 
mons he  would  draw  on  the  schools  of  experience  and  ob- 
servation and  found  himself  familiar  with  the  rank  and  file 
of  the   people  in   every  day  life. 

He  mingled  with  them,  he  won  their  hearts  and  they 
loved  him.  On  the  day  he  was  laid  away  to  his  silent  rest 
at  the  church  Summit  Street,  Dayton,  and  at  the  church 
in  Germantown  the  floral  offerings  were  never  before  equalled. 
They  were  sent  from  Springfield,  Columbus,  Indianapolis, 
Evansville,  Richmond,  Dayton,  Germantown  and  from 
other  places  and  persons,  and  the  various  organizations 
in  the  home  community,  church  and  neighborhood.  These 
flowers  in  their  beauty  and  fragrance  represented  sympathy, 
love  and  sorrow  for  the  Dear  One  who  was  so  beautifully 
environed   by   them. 

If  you  would  know  how  he  will  be  missed  in  his  own 
home,  ask  his  wife  and  children.  How  he  will  be  missed 
in  the  churches  where  he  has  officiated  as  presiding  elder 
and  pastor  for  forty  years.  He  will  be  missed  in  the  Miami 
Conference  where  he  served  as  Secretary  for  thirty-seven 
consecutive    years. 

Brother,  Beloved — thy  name  how  dear  to  all  who  knew 
thee  and  heard  the  music  of  thy  voice  as  it  trembled  on  thy 
quivering  lips  touched  with  holy  fire  from  off  the  Sacred 
Altar. 

Oh!  do  I  dream,  or  am  I  about  to  write  a  solemn  and 
yet  pleasing  reality  that  thou  art  on  earth  no  more.  We 
will  see  thy  form  no  more  within  the  sacred  desk.  We 
will  hear  thy  voice  no  more  telling  of  the  Savior's  love. 
But  we  shall  see  and  hear  thee  yet  in  memory  for  the  pic- 


ture  of  thy  life  shall  be  cherished  and  studied,  and  shall 
hang   high   on    the   walls    of   endiiring   affection. 

"Thou    art    not    dead,    but    sleeping." — Scripture. 
Poem  By  Lord  Lytton. 

There  is  no  death?     The  stars  go  down 
To  rise  upon  some  fairer  shore: 
And  bright  in   heaven's  jeweled  crown 
They    shine    forevermore. 

There  is  no  death!     The  dust  we  tread 
Shall   change  beneath   the  summer  showers 
To  golden   grain  or  mellowed  fruit, 
Or  rainbow   tinted   flowers. 

There  is  no  death!     The  leaves  may  fall, 
And  flowers  may  fade  and  pass  away; 
They  only  wait  through  wintery  hours. 
The  coming  of  the  May. 

There   is   no    death!     An    angel    form 
Walks  o'er   the  earth  with  silent  tread, 
He  bears  our  best  loved  things  away. 
And  then  we  call  them   "dead." 


He   leaves   our   hearts   all    desolate 
He   plucks   our   fairest,    sweetest   flower; 
Transplanted  into  bliss,   they  now 
Adorn  immortal  bowers. 

Where'er  He  sees  a  smile  too  bright, 
Or  heart  too  pure  for  taint  or  vice, 
He  bears  it  to  that  world  of  light, 
To  dwell  in  Paradise. 


BISHOP   WEEKLEY'S   ADDRESS. 

In  attempting  an  analysis  of  Mr.  Burkert's  life,  there 
are  five  elements  I  wish  to  emphasize,  as  giving  peculiar 
strength  and  beauty  to  his  long  career  of  usefulness  in  the 
church. 

The  first  was  his  devout  piety.  His  experience  as  a 
christian  was  definite  and  positive.  When  a  young  man 
he  was  brought  in  conscious  fellowship  with  his  Lord,  and 
thenceforth  surrendered  himself  without  reserve  to  the 
work  of  soul  winning.  No  man,  he  thought,  could  lead 
others  to  Christ  unless  he  had  been  to  Calvary  himself.  To 
tell  others  successfully  of  the  Divine  promises,  the  preacher 
must  realize  their  fulfillment  in  his  own  heart  and  life.  To 
a  marked  extent  he  sought  the  guiding  and  keeping  power 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  passion  of  anger  and  resentment 
would  have  been  easily  aroused  in  him,  but  for  the  grace 
of  God.  Being  thoroughly  in  subjection  to  the  will  of  the 
spirit,  his  disposition  was  sweet  and  amiable.  Those  near- 
est to  him  were  most  charmed  by  it,  and  found  in  it  an  ideal 
worthy  of  emulation.  In  this  respect  he  strongly  resem- 
bled the  sainted  Bishop  Weaver. 

His  gentleness  of  soul,  and  tender  regard  for  the  feelings 
and  views  of  others  was  constant.  It  was  a  living  stream 
flowing  out  continually  to  his  fellows.  It  was  especially 
seen  in  his  family  and  pastoral  relations. 

As  a  husband  and  father  he  was  thoughtful  and  kind, 
forbearing  and  devoted.  Those  of  his  own  household  had 
the  utmost  confidence  in  his  religion,  which  is  a  beautiful 
comment  upon  his  life.  Into  the  homes  of  his  people  he 
carried  sunshine  and  hope,  and  this  invariably  made  his 
presence   a   benediction   to   them. 

He  was  called  a  "Peace  Maker."  His  disposition  and 
good  judgment  fitted  him  for  such  an  office,  and  made  him 
pre-eminently  the  representative  of  Jesus  Christ.  His 
gentleness  was  itself  a  rebuke  to  those  who  were  inclined  to 
quarrel,  or  to  cultivate  a  feeling  of  revenge.  When  he 
made  known  his  purpose  to  retire  from  the  pastorate  of  Sum- 
mit Street  church,  a  good  sister  deplored  the  fact,  saying: 


"O!  he  was  so  kind  and  helpful  when  he  came  into  our 
homes."  What  a  tribute  to  his  faithfulness  and  loving 
devotion  to  his  people.  His  piety  was  a  deep  inwrought 
sentiment  which  pervaded  his  entire  being,  and  gave  color 
to  his  whole  life.  It  was  warm,  but  not  heated;  earnest 
but  tranquil.  It  was  a  gentle  zephyr  constantly  in  motion, 
rather  than  a  tempestuous  wind,  giving  occasional  violence 
to  his  emotions.  Yes,  like  Barnabas,  "He  was  a  good  man," 
the  highest  encomium  possible  for  any  mortal.  He  knew 
the  Great  Father  and  approached  him  with  all  the  bold- 
ness and  confidence  of  a  trustful  child.  It  seems  to  me 
I  never  heard  any  one  who  could  pray  as  he  did.  We've 
all  listened  in  breathless  silence  as  he  poured  out  his  sotd 
before  the  throne.  He  came  to  the  mercy  seat  as  one  who 
was  not  a  stranger  there,  for  he  was  "full  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
and  Faith." 

Second.  He  had  an  exalted  conception  of  the  Christian 
Ministry,  and  believed  in  a  divine  call  to  the  same.  Just 
as  the  ambassador  represents  his  sovereign  at  some  dis- 
tant court,  so  he  endeavored  to  stand  in  the  place  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  to  speak  his  words,  to  reflect  his  character, 
and  to  unfold  his  plans  and  purposes.  He  went  forth  be- 
cause he  had  been  sent,  and  delivered  the  message  with 
which  he  had  been  entrusted.  I  have  never  met  a  minister 
in  all  my  public  life  whose  words  were  more  chaste,  and 
whose  bearing  was  more  dignified  than  his.  No  matter 
what  the  occasion  or  circumstances,  he  never  lost  sight 
of  his  high  calling,  and  deported  himself  accordingly.  The 
pulpit  in  his  estimation  was  a  divine  institution  and  he 
accepted  his  place  therein,  as  a  part  of  God's  plan.  Need 
we  wonder  that  he  was  faithful  or  successful  in  the  field 
for  which  nature  and  grace  had  so  eminently  fitted  him? 
In  view  of  his  lofty  conceptions  of  the  work  of  the  minister, 
and  of  his  answering  purpose  to  carry  out  faithfully  his 
holy  commission,  we  need  not  be  surprised  that  he  refused 
to  lay  by  for  rest,  even  for  a  year,  though  urged  to  do  so 
by  his    family    and    friends. 

Third.     His   pulpit   ministrations   were    of   high   order. 


As  a  sermonizer  he  excelled.  To  this  his  conference  col- 
leagues will  all  agree.  His  discourses  always  prepared 
with  care,  never  failed  to  interest  the  more  thoughtful 
among  his  hearers.  There  was  a  sameness,  but  not  a  tame- 
ness  in  his  preaching.  He  was  singularly  free  from  the 
error  of  over  stating  his  arguments,  but  in  avoiding  extra- 
vagance he  did  not  descend  to  common  place  style.  He 
gathered  his  materials  from  every  available  source,  and 
wove  them  into  sermons  with  a  master's  hand.  Even  when 
he  communicated  the  thoughts  of  others,  he  first  grafted 
them  on  his  own  mind,  so  that  they  possessed  the  raciness 
of  a  native  growth.  While  he  did  not  have  in  early  life  the 
advantages  of  the  College  and  Theological  Seminary,  he 
was,  nevertheless,  broadly  speaking,  an  educated  man.  He 
was  a  Theologian,  because  he  knew  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
In  current  happenings,  whatever  their  nature,  he  kept  him- 
self well  informed.  He  was  a  student  of  men,  and  therefore 
a  recognized  leader  wherever  his  field.  He  had  not  in  his 
preaching  that  rugged  eloquence,  and  dashing  oratory 
which  characterizes  some  pulpiteers,  and  which  stir  and 
electrify  great  audiences,  but  with  rare  discrimination, 
he  selected  his  themes  and  illustrations  which  alway  edi- 
fied his  people.  His  influence  like  that  of  the  great  forces 
in   nature,   was   mild   and   noiseless,    effective   and   abiding 

The  rapidity  with  which  he  made  sermons,  his  style 
of  preparation,  his  method  of  delivery,  and  his  unique  use 
of  the  manuscript,  put  him  into  a  class  by  himself.  I  know 
of  no  one  with  whom  to  compare  him.  He  possessed  no 
ambitions  which  looked  toward  preferment.  He  was  too 
modest  and  unassuming  to  be  a  place  seeker.  His  sense 
of  responsibility  was  too  keen  for  him  to  seek  anything 
not  required  of  him  by  the  church.  His  one  and  only  de- 
sire was  to  preach.  To  him  the  gospel  was  an  evangel  of 
good  tidings,  and  no  privilege  on  earth,  known  to  man,  was 
dearer  to  him  than  that  of  proclaiming  this  message  to 
earth's  fallen,  sorrowing  sons  and  daughters. 

Fourth.  His  interest  in  the  entire  work  of  the  church 
was  intelligent  and  active.     He  stood  identified  with  every 


enterprise  affecting  his  conference,  giving  it  his  endorse- 
ment  and  unqualified   cooperation   from   year   to   year. 

While  not  so  well  known  throughout  the  Church  in 
person  as  some  others,  (for  Miami  Conference  was  his  God 
appointed  field)  yet  his  name  was  familiar  to  all  readers 
of  our  publications  because  of  his  connection  with  the  several 
Church  Boards.  In  managing  the  church's  material  affairs 
he  was  progressive  and  optimistic,  yet  sufficiently  conserva- 
tive to  dissent  from  any  course  that  would  seem  rash  and 
unwise.  As  a  pastor  he  directed  the  business  of  his  church 
with  the  most  perfect  skill,  and  never  failed  to  enlist  the 
sympathy  and  helpful   aid  of  his  people. 

Was  he  ever  known  to  be  in  a  financial  tangle  from 
which  he  could  not  and  did  not  extricate  himself?  Did  he 
ever  come  to  conference  with  his  benevolences  only  partly 
collected?  Did  he  ever  advise  a  course  that  endangered 
any  enterprise  of  the  Conference  whether  general  or  local? 
Let  the  records  and  his  surviving  ministerial  brethren  bear 
testimony. 

Fifth.  His  faith  was  supreme.  He  believed  in  God, 
and  it  was  accounted  unto  him  for  righteousness.  No  one 
ever  heard  him  express  a  doubt  as  to  the  truth  of  the  word, 
or  the  certain,  ultimate  fulfillment  of  its  assurances.  His 
belief  in  immortality  had  in  it  something  of  the  clearness 
of  vision.  Just  as  the  traveler  from  some  high  peak,  by  the 
aid  of  his  telescope,  sees  the  land  toward  which  he  journeys, 
though  there  be  intervening  hills,  and  river  and  plain,  so  he 
in  times  of  meditation  and  holy  communion  caught  glimpses 
of  the  unending  life.  As  was  said  of  Abraham,  so  we  may 
say  of  him,  "He  looked  for  a  city,  which  hath  foundation, 
whose  builder  and  maker  is  God."  We've  all  heard  him 
talk  of  heaven,  not  as  a  mythical  fairy  land;  not  as  an  eter- 
nal something,  everywhere  in  general,  and  nowhere  in  cer- 
tainty, but  as  a  place  real  and  abiding,  with  its  fellowships, 
activities,  and  holy  service.  Praise  God!  he  knows  this 
moment  what  it  means  to  be  there.  This  lifeless  form  be- 
fore us  is  not  our  Brother  Burkert — our  fellow  toiler  in 
the   church — our  friend   and  neighbor — the  man   of  God — 


the  messenger  of  reconciliation.  No!  No!  It  is  merely 
the  house  in  which  he  lived  while  among  us.  It  is  only  the 
casket  in  which  divine  wisdom  placed  a  priceless  jewel,  that 
it  might  be  garnished  and  beautiful,  and  thus  prepared  to 
live   in   his   glorious   presence   forever. 

Death,  so  called,  is  both  a  transition  and  an  apocalypse. 
Paul  wrote  "The  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand."  The 
word  "departure"  points  primarily  to  the  unfastening  of 
a  ship's  moorings  about  to  set  sail  and  thus  he  intimates 
that  death's  hand  would  but  pull  up  the  anchor  or  loose  the 
cable  which  bound  him  to  the  shores  of  this  world;  hence 
his  death  would  be  an  emancipation;  not  merely  a  going 
hence,  a  transition  but  "a  going  free."  Such  was  death 
as  Mr.  Moody  among  his  last  words  said,  "Earth  recedes, 
heaven  opens  before  me.  If  this  be  death,  it  is  sweet.  There 
is  no  valley  here,  God  is  calling  and  I  must  go."  To  our 
departed  Brother  it  was  also  an  apocalypse — a  disclosing 
to  him  of  the  mysteries  within  the  veil.  As  the  darkness 
of  the  night  reveals  to  us  the  vastness  of  creation,  so  death 
unveils  the  hidden  things  beyond.  He  is  there  seeing — 
seeing — knowing — loving — serving  as  the  redeemed  only  see 
and   know,   and  live — and  serve. — 

There  is  a  tinge  of  sadness  in  the  thought  that  Brother 
Burkert  is  gone  from  us  not  to  rettirn  anymore.  The  lips 
of  clay  through  which  he  spoke  will  remain  silent  for  a  long 
time.  His  voice  will  no  more  be  heard  in  the  home,  in  the 
church,  or  in  the  social  circle.  The  purpose  of  God  has  been 
wrought  in  his  earthly  life.  Earth  is  poorer  because  he 
left  it,  but  heaven  is  richer  in  affection  and  moral  worth, 
because    he    is    there. 

May  his  bereft  companion — his  faithful  helper  in  the 
Lord — be  conscious  of  God's  comforting  presence  and  near- 
ness in  every  step  she  takes  during  the  remainder  of  her 
journey  homeward,  and  you,  sons,  will  not  forget,  that  though 
your  father  has  gone  to  glory,  he  is  still  your  Father.  He 
still  has  a  father's  love  and  interest  in  you.  Be  good,  and 
you  shall  see  him  again,  and  live  with  him  forever. 

God    grant    that    His   mantle    of   spiritual    power,    and 


loving  devotion  to  Jesus,  may  fall  upon  every  minister 
of  Miami  Conference  "For  he  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of 
the    Holy    Ghost,    and    faith." 

Chicago,  Nov.  16th,  1905. 
Mrs.  C.  J.  Burkert, 

Dear  Sister — Upon  my  return  home  yesterday,  I  was 
shocked  with  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  your  precious 
husband.  Oh,  how  my  heart  goes  out  in  Christian  sym- 
pathy for  you  in  your  bereavement.  How  I  loved  your 
noble  husband!  And  what  a  royal,  good  man  he  was!  He 
was  one  of  God's  noblemen.  He  leaves  a  splendid  record 
behind  him  as  a  husband,  father,  brother,  soldier,  citizen, 
preacher  and  business  man.  He  has  been  greatly  pro- 
moted by  being  called  to  his  eternal  home.  You  have 
otu*  profound  sympathy  and  earnest  prayers,  :for  Mrs.  Mat- 
hews joins  me  in  this  slight  expression  of  sympathy  for  you. 
Most  sincerely  yours, 

G.    M.    Mathews. 

ADDRESS   OF   PROF.    J.    P.   LAND  IS,   D.    D. 

Rev.  Cyrus  Jacob  Bvirkert  was  bom  at  Rebersburg, 
Center  Co.,  Penn.,  July  7,  1842,  and  died  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
Sunday  morning,  November  12,  1905,  aged  sixty-three 
years,   four  months  and  five  days. 

Beyond  the  common  district  school  his  early  educa- 
tion consisted  of  attendance  at  a  select  school  in  his  native 
town  of  Rebersburg,  followed  by  some  months  of  private 
tuition  and  reading  under  a  Lutheran  minister  named  Got- 
wald,  father  of  the  late  Dr.  Gotwald  of  Springfield,  Ohio. 
He  was  converted  when  about  fifteen  years  of  age  at  a  meeting 
held  by  Rev.  Cyrus  Jeffries,  M.  D.,  an  earnest  devoted  min- 
ister, who  had  come  to  us  from  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church  because  of  our  anti-slavery  views,  and  who  as  a 
flaming  evangelist  was  going  up  and  down  the  valley  of 
that  section,  calling  men  to  repentance.  He  delayed  for 
sometime  whether  to  study  law  or  enter  the  ministry.  To 
preach  for  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  that  section  and 


CHOIR— SUMMIT    STREET   CHURCH 


at  that  period  in  our  history,  meant  hard  work,  extensive 
travel,  with  Httle  pay.  The  example,  and  may  be  the  per- 
suasion of  his  uncle  helped  him  to  a  decision  and  he  began 
to  prepare  for  his  work.  He  had  an  uncle,  Rev.  C.  J.  Bur- 
kert,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Allegheny  Conference,  and 
he  accompanied  him  in  his  pastoral  administrations,  as- 
sisting him  in  the  sabbath  services,  one  part  of  his  duty 
being  to  lead  the  singing.  There  is  probably  no  better 
schooling  for  a  young,  prospective  minister  in  the  pastoral 
duties  of  his  office  than  this  method  of  working  under  the 
direction  of  an  active  pastor.  He  may  not  have  so  much 
of  theory,  but  is  likely  to  attain  to  practical  efficiency.  In- 
deed, one  of  our  early  bishops  before  his. death  left  a  be- 
quest of  $5,000  to  one  of  the  Conferences  for  the  training 
of  young  men  for  the  ministry  after  this  plan. 

Later  he  spent  a  little  time  at  a  Lutheran  Theological 
School,  located  at  Selins  Grove,  Pa.  His  going  to  Indiana 
with  his  uncle  probably  prevented  his  further  attendance 
at  this  institution.  He  never  felt  satisfied  with  his  theo- 
logical equipment.  After  his  coming  to  Ohio  he  planned 
more  than  once  to  enter  Union  Biblical  Seminary,  but  the 
pressing  of  Presiding  Elders  and  the  importunities  of  sta- 
tionary committees  induced  him  to  postpone  it  year  by  year 
until   the   opportunity  had  slipped  away. 

In  1862  he  taught  school  in  East  Germantown,  Indiana 
for  a  few  months,  and  then  entered  Hartsville  University, 
a  school  then  under  the  control  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  intending  to  take  a  classical  course,  but  he  was  soon 
interrupted  by  a  serious  affection  of  his  eyes  and  otherwise 
failing  health.  The  war  was  now  on.  A  call  for  ninety 
day  troops  to  meet  an  emergency  was  made  by  Governor 
Morton  and  Mr.  Burkert,  like  thousands  of  other  young 
men  heard  the  call  and  responded.  He  joined  the  Fifty- 
fourth  Indiana  Volunteers  at  Cambridge  City  on  June  3, 
1862,  and  was  mustered  into  service  as  a  Sergeant  at  Ind- 
ianapolis on  June  4,  1862.  His  regiment  remained  in  Ind- 
iana until  August  when  they  were  hurried  to  Kentucky  to 
repel  the  invasion  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith.     He  had  only  been 


day  morning,  as  the  children  and  the  youth  were  gathering 
for  Sunday  School  he  might  be  seen  passing  here  and  there 
through  the  different  departments,  including  the  primary 
room,  shaking  hands  and  extending  a  warm  greeting.  Every 
Sabbath  evening,  unless  something  very  unusual  intervened, 
he  was  in  his  place  in  the  young  people's  meeting. 

He  was  methodical  and  prompt  in  his  work,  and  these 
qualities  manifested  themselves  in  his  sermons.  He  was 
a  good  sermonizer.  His  sermons  were  full  of  thought, 
meaty,  well  arranged;  his  diction  was  good,  his  sentences 
well  constructed,  and  his  points  appropriately  and  some- 
times strikingly  illustrated,  especially  by  incidents  which 
had  come  tmder  his  own  observation  or  which  he  had  en- 
countered in  his  readings.  He  carefully  prepared  all  his 
discourses,    perhaps    always    reducing    them    in    writing. 

In  his  thinking  he  was  not  misty,  but  clear,  plain,  prac- 
tical. His  hearers  had  no  difficulty  in  understanding  his 
meaning,  and  hence  it  was  easy  to  follow  him  in  his  dis- 
course. He  made  almost  no  attempt  at  rhetorical  or  poetic 
flights,  although  his  thoughts  were  often  beautiful  and 
the  diction  always  chaste.  Surely  he  was  one  of  the  "useful" 
men   of   Miami    Conference    and   of  the    demonination. 

He  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Anna  Boughner,  who 
together  with  their  two  sons,  George  and  William,  siirvive 
him.  While  they  will  most  sorely  miss  him,  they  have  the 
blessed  consolation  of  knowing  that  he  dropped  while  in 
the  harness.  He  was  spared  the  humiliation  of  decrepi- 
tude and  of  having  been  laid  aside  as  no  longer  able  to  labor 
but  that  he  died  in  the  full  possession  of  all  his  intellectual 
and  bodily  vigor.  They  also  can  proudly  reflect  upon  his 
long  and  useful  career  of  not  far  from  a  century  of  success- 
ful toil  in  the  Master's  vineyard  and  for  the  bettering  of 
mankind. 

It  was  told  by  witnesses  to  the  fact,  that  almost  every 
one  who  came  in  to  view  the  remains  while  he  lay  in  state, 
had  words  of  praise,  of  gratitude  and  of  love,  remarking 
upon  his  geniality,  his  comforting  help  at  different  occasions. 


and  of  his  service  in  different  ways.  Such  fame  is  better 
than   the   applause   of   the   excited   multitude. 

Mr.  Burkert  was  an  interested  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  by  which  he  not  only  testified  his 
loyalty  to  the  flag  of  his  country,  but  as  well  that  he  cher- 
ished the  memory  of  his  comrades  who  fought  with  him 
in  the  great  conflict  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  It 
was  another  evidence  of  his  warmth  of  heart,  as  also  was 
his  tender  references  in  his  public  pulpit  prayers  to  the  dear 
young  people  of  his  congregation,  who  were  at  the  different 
colleges  of  the  land  and  those  who  were  in  remote  parts 
for  other  reasons. 

A  good,  noble,  generous,  useful  man,  citizen,  minister 
of  the  gospel,  Christian  has  fallen.  We  bid  him  farewell 
in  the  hope  of  meeting  him  again  in  the  land  where  there 
shall  be  no  sorrow. 

The  prince  of  American  preachers  once  wrote  these 
beautiful    words: 

"No  one  cries  when  children,  long  absent  from  their 
parents,  go  home.  Vacation  morning  is  a  jubilee.  But 
death  is  the  Christian's  vacation  morning.  School  is  out. 
It  is  time  to  go  home.  It  is  surprising  that  one  should 
wish  life  here  who  may  have  life  in  heaven,  and  when  friends 
have  gone  out  from  us  joyously,  I  think  we  should  go  with 
them  to  the  grave,  not  singing  mournful  psalms,  but  scat- 
tering flowers.  Christians  are  wont  to  walk  in  black,  and 
sprinkle  the  ground  with  tears,  at  the  very  time  they  should 
walk  in  white  and  illuminate  the  way  by  smiles  and  radiant 
hope.  The  disciples  found  angels  at  the  grave  of  Him 
they  loved,  and  we  should  always  find  them  too,  but  that 
our  eyes  are  too  full  of  tears  for  seeing  them."      (Beecher) 

Born  in  Rebersburg,  Pa.,  July  7,  1842.  Died  Nov.  12, 
1905. 

REV.  C.  J.  BURKERT'S  RELATION  TO  THE  SEMINARY 
AND  TO  THE  SUMMIT  STREET  CHURCH. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  in 
May  1903,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 


mittee,  and  served  continuously  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Although  not  a  member  of  the  Board  himself,  and  not- 
withstanding there  were  many  others  within  reach,  semi- 
nary Alumni  and  others,  not  having  so  much  on  their  hands 
as  he,  still  he  was  called  to  fill  this  important  and  responsible 
position,  because  of  his  sound,  conservative  judgment  in 
business  affairs.  He  was  always  prompt  and  punctual. 
He  seldom  kept  others  of  a  Committee  or  Board  or  Confer- 
ence waiting  for  him.  He  took  pride  in  being  on  time,  thus 
saving  time  for  himself  and  for  those  who  were  associated 
with  him  on  Committees  and  Boards. 

Always  taking  a  hopeful,  and  even  optimistic  view  of 
men  and  affairs  he  was  a  good  counselor.  While  he  had 
opinions  of  his  own  he  was  always  ready  to  yield  to  others 
when  convinced  they  had  something  better.  "It  will  be 
easy  to  get  someone  to  fill  his  place,  but  hard  to  get  anot 
her  to  do  his  work." 

His  relation  to  the  Faculty  of  the  Seminary  and  to  the 
students  was  always  the  most  pleasant.  He  was  at  all 
times  easy  of  access,  and  all  felt  that  they  could  go  to  him 
at  any  time  with  any  matter  and  find  him  a  safe  and  inter- 
ested counselor  and  friend. 

His  Relation  to  this  Church. 

For  the  past  five  years,  ending  with  last  August,  he 
had    been    its    beloved    pastor. 

His  appointment  to  this  charge  by  the  Conference 
which  met  at  Hartford  Street  Church,  August  1900,  was  a 
"surprise",  a  surprise  to  him,  and  to  this  church,  and  a 
disappointment  to  both.  He  had  just  served  one  year 
at  Germantown  and  expected  to  return,  and  the  people 
wanted  him  returned.  He,  himself,  questioned  whether 
he  was  adapted  to  such  a  charge  as  this,  and  the  congre- 
gation was  not  at  all  sanguine.  Had  he  been  less  loyal  to 
the  will  of  the  Conference  he  would  have  preferred  almost 
any  other  place.  But  courageously  taking  up  the  work, 
he  soon  began  to  feel  comfortable  himself,  and  to  win  his 
way  into  the  hearts  of  the  people  inside  and  outside  the 


church,  and  that  went  on  increasingly  to  the  close  of  the 
pastorate  of  five  years.  It  was  a  beautiful  climax  to  a  long 
useful  ministry  that  being  the  last,  it  was  the  longest  of 
his  pastorate. 

Viewed  as  a  "Preacher",  he  was  above  the  average. 
He  always  preached  well.  He  prepared  with  great  care  by 
writing,  and  then  he  read  from  manuscript,  and  so  failures 
were  eliminated  so  far  as  the  public  estimation  was  con- 
cerned, or  at  least  reduced  to  the  minimum.  He  loved 
the  work  of  preparation  of  sermons,  and  was  skillful  in 
gathering  material,  not  only  from  the  word  of  God,  but  also 
from  history  and  occurances  of  daily  life.  He  was  a  keen 
observer  of  events  and  a  careful  preserver  of  incidents 
suitable    for    illustration    of    some    truth. 

He  wrote  easily,  and  he  read  with  great  naturalness 
of  voice  and  manner  so  that  except  for  the  turning  of  the 
leaves  now  and  then  many  could  scarcely  discover  that  he 
was  using  a  manuscript  at  all.  His  auditors  were  at  ease, 
and  many  thoroughly  enjoyed  his  presentation  of  the  truth. 

As  a  "preacher"  he  honored  the  Word  of  God. 

He  never  began  a  service  without  reading  a  portion 
of  the  truth,  and  he,  like  Ezra,  "read  it  distinctly,  gave  the 
sense   and   caused   the   people   to   understand   the   reading." 

He  "honored"  it  by  the  abundant  use  of  it  in  his  public 
prayers.  He  often  expressed  the  adoration,  thanksgiving, 
confession  and  petition  of  the  congregation  in  the  language 
which  God  by  his  Spirit  has  left  upon  record  for  His  people. 
His  mind  seemed  stored  with  the  Word,  and  it  came  from 
him  in  a  most  natural  and  felicitous  manner. 

He  honored  the  Word  by  his  "preaching"  it.  He  sel- 
dom if  ever  used  any  other  than  the  textual  method,  thus 
keeping  the  minds  of  his  hearers  and  his  own  mind  in  direct 
contact    with    the    Word    of    God. 

This  method  too,  gave  freshness  and  relish  in  the  study 
of  the  Word.  He  was  constantly  delving  into  this  great 
rich,  inexhaustible  mine  of  truth,  and  grew  richer  and  richer 
as  the  years  increased. 


He  honored  the  Word  by  preaching  its  "doctrines." 
He  was  orthodox  and  evangelical.  He  had  no  time  or 
love  for  side  issues  and  isms.  The  old  doctrines  of  sin,  of 
repentance,  of  justification,  of  regeneration,  of  growth  in 
the  divine  life  were  staple  and  fundamental  in  his  ministry. 

He  honored  the  Word  by  emphasizing  in  his  preaching 
its  practical  obligations,  and  urging  upon  others  obedience 
thereto. 

He  honored  the  Word  by  living  out  in  daily  life  what  he 
preached  to  others,  and  this  is  the  most  forceful  and  lasting 
feature  of  his  long  and  useful  ministry  to  this  congrega- 
tion and  in  this  conference  and  valley. 

Many  will  forget  the  texts  he  used,  the  sermons  he 
preached,  the  baptisms  performed,  the  marriages  solem- 
nized, but  none  will  ever  forget  what  C.  J.  Burkert  "was" 
— his  genial  face,  his  sunny  disposition,  his  kindly  manner, 
his  friendly  greeting.  Such  a  man  lives  on  after  his  body 
has  been  consigned  to  the  tomb.  Bury  him!  You  can 
not  bury  him!  To  bury  Brother  Burkert  you  must  go  up 
and  down  this  valley  in  its  length  and  breadth  thereof  and 
gather  up  out  of  living  beings  the  truths  taught,  the  kind 
feelings  of  the  many  hearts  he  cheered,  the  memory  of  deeds 
done  for  the  distressed.     You  can  never  bury  the  sunshine. 

But  much  as  he  was  as  a  successful  administrator  in 
the  business  affairs  of  the  church,  and  much  as  he  was  as 
a  preacher,  he  was  more  as  a  pastor.     In  this  he  excelled. 

He  loved  all  parts  of  his  work.  He  especially  loved 
his  people,  and  it  was  no  task,  but  a  real  delight,  to  get  into 
close   contact   with   them   in   their   homes. 

Being  of  a  cheerful  disposition,  for  which  he  was  grate- 
ful,   he   brought   cheer  to   those   he   visited. 

He  knew  his  flock  by  name  even  down  to  the  boys  and 
girls,  and  the  little  ones  of  the  infant  class  room,  and  he 
spent  sometime  every  Sunday  morning  while  the  school 
was  gathering  in  going  from  class  to  class  and  greeting  and 
shaking   hands   with   the   early   comers. 

Thus  he  bound  the  hearts  of  all,  young  and  old,  to  him, 
and  to  the  church  and  to  Christ  with  more  than  hooks  of 


REV.    C.    J.    BURKERT 
AT    24 


steel,  yea  aye,  with  the  cords  of  love  which  can  not  be  broken. 

Time  fails  me  to  speak  of  what  his  life  and  ministry 
meant  to  those  outside  this  congregation  and  communion 
to  the  members  of  other  churches  and  to  those  not  members 
of  any  church.  All  felt  the  upward  pull  of  his  modest  ex- 
ample and  his  cheerful  words  as  he  went  in  and  out  among 
them. 

Said  a  member  of  another  Church,  "I  often  go  to  him 
for  counsel,  for  I  can  get  nearer  to  him  than  I  can  to  my 
own  pastor." 

In  many  a  heart  not  present  here  this  morning  because 
of  sickness,  and  other  unavoidable  circumstances,  there  is 
deep  regret  and  sorrow,  a  sense  of  personal  bereavement 
in   the   death   of  this   good  man. 

O,  the  power  of  a  life  wholly  devoted  to  the  glory  of 
God,    and   to   the   good   of  men! 

O,  the  majesty  of  that  ministry  that  has  unswervingly 
and  increasingly  given  itself  to  the  one  business  of  preaching 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus — the  minister  of  Nazareth,  the  Savior 
of  the  World!  Is  there  anything  comparable  to  it — any- 
thing   on    earth    more    beautiful? 

Brethren  in  the  ministry,  fellow  professors  and  stu- 
dents of  the  Seminary,  it  seems  to  me  there  comes  a  special 
message  this  morning,  not  out  of  that  casket  so  much  as 
from  the  example  and  spirit  of  our  Brother  and  recent  pas- 
tor, a  message  that  reads  like  this,  that  "A  consecrated 
life  is  more  potent  for  good  than  official  robes,  or  rank,  or 
renown. 

Did  I  say  ministers?  It  comes  to  all,  laity  and  clergy, 
for  by  it  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert  has  built  for  himself  a  memorial 
in  the  hearts  of  the  members  of  this  church  and  Conference, 
more  enduring  than  any  marble  bust,  or  bronzed  tablet 
we  could  build  into  these  brick  walls  to  commemorate  his 
ministry    among   us. 

Bury  him!  Such  a  life!  As  well  think  of  gathering 
the  aroma  of  some  beautiful  flower  that  all  simimer  long 
has  been  sending  out  its  fragrance  to  perfume  the  air  and 
to  bless  every  passerby  as  he  hurries  on  his  mission. 


You  can  not  hide  such  a  life  beneath  the  clods  of  earth. 
Brother  Burkert  lives  on  today  in  Heaven  and  will  live 
on  here  in  the  hearts  and  memories  of  hundreds  and  thous- 
ands   of    those    who    loved    him. 

"Servant  of  God  well  done, 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ, 

The  battle's  fought,  the  victory's  won 

Enter  thy  Master's  joy." 

G.   A.    Funkhouser, 

Union  Biblical  Seminary. 

FUNERAL   SERVICES   AT   GERMANTOWN. 

A  large  assembly  had  gathered  in  the  church  long  be- 
fore the  funeral  cortege  arrived.  The  services  were  in  charge 
of  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Swain.  These  two  were  as  David  and 
Jonathan  in  their  love  for  each  other  and  in  their  long,  and 
useful  lives  they  planned  and  labored  only  to  glorify  their 
Master.     The    following    are    the    addresses    made: 

ADDRESS   OF   REV.   G.  P.    MACKLIN. 

In  his  nineteenth  year  Mr.  Burkert  came  to  East  Ger- 
mantown,   Ind. 

He  began  his  work  in  the  ministry  in  Indiana  in  the 
Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  In  1865  he  united 
with  this,  the  Miami  Annual  Conference.  For  forty  years 
he  has  labored  in  this  territory.  During  this  time  he  has 
served  fourteen  full  years  as  presiding  elder  and  was  in  the 
first  quarter  of  the  fifteenth  year  when  he  passed  from  labor 
to  reward.  He  filled  important  pastoral  relations  in  the 
Conference,  and  was  everywhere  acceptable  to  the  people. 
His  last  pastorate  was  a  five  year  one  in  Summit  Street 
Church,  Dayton,  Ohio,  closing  Aug.  16th,  1905.  In  this  pas- 
torate there  were  211  accessions  to  the  church.  He  made 
3882  pastoral  visits.  He  conducted  153  funerals;  he 
solemnized  seventy  marriages  and  baptized  forty-eight 
persons.  During  this  pastorate  and  under  his  sympathetic 
leadership  Summit  Street  Church  projected  Troy  Street 
Church  as  a  mission  and  contributed  more  than  $2,000 
toward   the   enterprise. 


Mr.  Burkert  was  always  closely  identified  with  the 
business  of  the  Conference.  For  thirty-seven  out  of  forty 
years  he  was  its  Recording  Secretary.  He  represented 
this  body  four  times  as  delegate  to  the  General  Conference. 
He  held  a  unique  place  in  the  general  work  of  the  Church. 
At  the  time  of  his  departure  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  U.  B.  Publishing  House  and  one  of  the 
directors  of  Union  Biblical  Seminary.  In  all  of  these  posi- 
tions be  gave  the  Church  the  full  benefit  of  his  ripe  experience. 

His  sympathies  were  wider  than  his  church.  He  was 
a  member  of  Carlton  Bear  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Germantown, 
Ohio,  and  just  recently  transferred  his  membership  to  Old 
Guard    Post    in    this    city. 

In  1867  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Boughner  who 
survives  him  and  mourns  his  loss  today.  From  this  union 
came  two  sons,  William  G.  and  George  C.  Burkert.  The 
elder  is  secretary  of  the  Keller  Printing  and  Publishing 
Company  of  Evansville,  Indiana.  The  younger  is  the  Ind- 
iana representative  of  Baker-Vawter  Company  of  Chicago, 
and    resides    in    Richmond,    Indiana. 

The  places  that  knew  Brother  Burkert  in  our  Church 
and  Conference  will  know  him  no  more  on  earth.  His  in- 
fluence will  linger  long  among  us.  Good  bye,  Brother  Bur- 
kert, we  will  meet  you  in  the  morning  that  knows  no  night. 

SUMMIT   ST.    CONGREGATION   RESOLUTIONS. 

Resolutions  adopted  Sunday  morning,  November  19th, 
1905,  by  the  congregation  worshipping  in  Summit  Street 
United   Brethren   Church. 

Inasmuch  as  our  Heavenly  Father  saw  fit  last  Sun- 
day morning  to  transfer  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert,  until  a  few 
months  ago,  the  faithful  pastor  of  this  Church,  from  ser- 
vice on  earth  to  reward  and  service  in  Heaven,  we  bow 
ourselves  and  worship  in  recognition  of  God's  sovereignty 
and  wisdom  and  humble  ourselves  under  His  mighty  hand. 

We  call  to  mind  the  long  and  useful  career  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Burkert  as  a  minister  in  the  Conference,  but  particu- 
larly   remember    his    thoughtful    ministrations    among    us. 


the  past  five  years,  as  a  wise  pastor,  an  aggressive  admin- 
istrator,   a   judicious   counselor,    and   sympathetic   friend. 

We  also  record  with  pride  our  high  esteem  for  him 
as  a  patriot  and  citizen. 

We  believe  that,  now,  the  way  to  make  a  wise  use  of 
this  Providence,  and  as  a  congregation  and  as  individuals, 
the  best  method  of  showing  our  appreciation  of  him  as  a 
pastor  is  to  live  out  in  our  lives  the  truths  he  preached  and 
lived,  and  in  this  way  build  in  every  one  of  our  lives  a  mem- 
orial to  him  more  lasting  than  a  granite  shaft.  And  to  this 
better  living  we  this  day  pledge  otu-selves  to  each  other  and 
to  the  Lord. 

We  tender  to  the  family  our  deep  sympathy,  and  will 
pray  that  the  comfort  of  God,  with  which  he  comforted  others, 
may  be  theirs  abundantly  and  in  increasing  measure. 

G.  A.  FUNKHOUSER, 

Committee. 

UNION   BIBLICAL   SEMINARY  RESOLUTIONS. 

To    Mrs.    C.   J.    Burkert   and   Family: 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Faculty  of  Union  Biblical 
Seminary,  resolutions  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  Rev. 
C.  J.  Burkert,  deceased,  were  passed,  and  of  appreciation 
of  his  services  to  the  Seminary,  as  a  member  of  the  Exec- 
utive Committee  for  several   years  past. 

They  express  their  deep  sense  of  loss  in  his  removal 
and  of  the  hearty  sympathy  with  his  family  in  their  be- 
reavement, and  pray  for  the  divine  blessing  richly  to  fall 
upon  them,  that  they  may  be  sustained  by  our  Heavenly 
Father.  Mr.  Burkert  died  full  of  labors,  having  had  a  use- 
ful life  as  pastor,  Presiding  Elder  and  worker  in  the  Vine- 
yard in  other  ways,  and  he  has  now  entered  upon  his  reward. 
"Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord,  and  their  works 
do  follow  them.  J.    P.    LANDIS, 

Sec'y  of  Faculty. 

OLD  GUARD  POST  RESOLUTIONS  ON  THE  DEATH  OF 
COMRADE  C.  J.  BURKERT. 

"Whereas,     God  in  His  inscrutable  providence,  did,  on 


the  twelfth  day  of  November,  1905,  call  from  earth  our 
esteemed    Comrade,    the    Reverend   C.   J.    Btirkert;     and 

"Whereas,  We  recognize  in  him  not  only  a  loyal  de- 
voted patriot  and  soldier,  but  a  true  minister  of  the  Gospel 
of  Christ,  and,  as  such,  a  most  faithful  servant  of  the  people 
whose  membership  reflected  special  honor  upon  this  Post, 

"Therefore,     be    it    resolved: 

1.  That  we,  the  members  of  Old  Guard  Post,  bow  in 
meek  submission  to  this  providential  dispensation,  by 
which   we    are   so   sorely   bereaved: 

2.  That  we  are  deeply  sensible  of  the  great  loss  that 
we  sustain,  both  personally  and  fraternally,  as  a  Post,  in 
the   death   of   Comrade   Burkert: 

3.  That  we  extend  to  the  bereaved  widow  and  her 
sons  our  sincere  condolence  in  this  their  time  of  great  sorrow. 

4.  That  we  be  encouraged  by  the  Christian  life,  and 
admonished  by  the  death  of  our  comrade  to  so  live  that, 
in  God's  good  time,  we  may  be,  each  and  all,  as  well  pre- 
pared to  answer  the  roll  call  of  death  as  we  know  he  was: 

5.  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  minutes 
of  this  meeting  of  the  Post,  and  that  a  copy  of  same  be  sent 
to  the  bereaved  widow. 

Attest:  J.    L.    KEPHART, 

A.  J.  SMITH,  Adjt.    P.    P.  ELLIS, 

WM.    H.    PRITZ,  Committee. 

Germantown,  Ohio,  Dec.  1st,  1906. 
To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  Lodge,  No.  21,  /.  O.  O.  F. 

Brothers:  —  At  a  regular  meeting  of  our  Lodge  held  last 
Saturday  night  the  Committee  on  resolutions  on  the  death 
of  Rev.  Bro.  C.  J.  Burkert  submitted  the  following,  which 
was  adopted: 

"By  the  relentless  hand  of  the  Death  Angel  has  an- 
other Brother  of  this  Lodge  been  called  to  the  Supreme 
Lodge  above,  over  which  the  Sovereign  Master  presides. 
Neither  time  nor  space  avails  us  to  deal  with  the  history, 
nor  record  the   virtues  of  this   faithful   Brother,   nor   does 


his  memory  need  the  tribute  which  such  a  record  could  give. 
Upon  the  pages  of  the  Recording  Angel  will  be  found  the 
history  of  his  good  works,  his  faithful  labor,  his  devotion 
to  the  right  and  the  noble  service  he  has  rendered  to  hu- 
manity, while  upon  the  hearts  of  those  near  and  dear  to  him, 
his  family,  his  friends  and  brethren,  are  written  in  char- 
acters which  time  may  soften  but  cannot  efface,  the  story 
of  his  living,  his  loving  and  kindly  thoughts  and  generous 
deeds,  a  bright  record  shadowed  but  by  the  sense  of  our 
loss    in    his    removal. 

Bro.  C.  J.  Burkert  was  admitted  a  member  of  this  Lodge 
on  the  28th  day  of  September,  1892.  He  saw  in  this  great 
fraternity  object  lessons  that  tended  to  draw  nearer  the 
hearts  of  men,  into  one  common  purpose  of  adding  to  the 
plodding  toil  of  his  life  the  inspiration  of  a  common  hope, 
lifting  men  out  of  the  narrowness  of  their  lives  alone  into 
the  breadth  and  scope  of  many  lives.  His  chosen  pro- 
fession was  in  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel  in  which  he  sought 
to  enlighten  and  liberalize  the  thoughts  of  men.  Selfish- 
ness to  him  was  the  spirit  of  darkness;  fraternity,  the  spirit 
of  hght. 

On  the  twelfth  day  of  November,  1905,  the  door  di- 
viding line  which  separates  finite  from  the  infinite,  swung 
on  its  hinges  and  Brother  Burkert  entered  upon  the  en- 
larged work  of  the  future.  He  passed  from  this  life  full 
of  years  and  honor,  respected  and  loved  by  all  who  knew 
him,  ever  faithful  to  the  trust  confided  in  him,  unexcelled 
as  a  pastor  and  with  no  superior  as  a  citizen,  therefore  be  it 

''Resolved,  That  in  extending  to  the  family  of  our 
deceased  Brother  our  earnest  sympathy  in  their  loss,  with 
bowed  heads  and  reverent  hearts  we  give  the  sad  record 
of  this  bereavement,  and  be  it  further 

''Resolved,  That  as  a  token  of  respect  to  his  departed 
worth  as  a  Brother  and  friend,  the  full  honors  of  the  order 
be  extended;  that  the  Lodge  be  properly  draped  the  pro- 
per length  of  time  and  that  these  resolutions  be  spread 
on  the  minutes,  further  that  a  copy  be  fiu-nished  the  family 
of  the  deceased." 

A  true  copy.  ADAM   FRANK,  Sec'y. 


From  Dayton  Daily  Journal,  November  13,  1905. 

The  announcement  of  the  death  of  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert, 
which  occurred  at  his  home  on  Summit  street  at  seven 
o'clock  Sunday  morning,  has  brought  a  great  shock  to  his 
many  friends  and  acquaintances  in  this  city  and  in  this 
part  of  the  state.  Two  weeks  before  his  death  he  attended 
an  appointment  out  of  the  city,  preaching  twice  on  Sun- 
day. At  that  time  however,  he  was  suffering  from  a  car- 
buncle on  the  back  of  his  neck,  which  became  more  and 
more  malignant,  wearing  on  his  already  reduced  strength, 
inducing  at  last  heart  failure.  Few  persons  were  aware 
that  he  was  seriously  sick  until  the  announcement  of  his 
death  came.  About  three  months  ago  he  closed  a  very 
successful  five  year  pastorate  of  Summit  Street  United 
Brethren  Church.  He  had  previously  served  pastorates 
at  Germantown,  Springfield  and  other  places.  He  served 
fourteen  years  and  was  entering  upon  his  fifteenth  year 
as  Presiding  Elder  in  Miami  Conference.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  United  Brethren  Publishing  House  and  was  a  director 
of  Union  Biblical  Seminary.  He  was  four  times  a  delegate 
to  the  General  Conference  of  his  church.  He  entered  the 
ministry  in  Indiana  in  1865,  and  a  year  or  two  thereafter 
became  a  member  of  Miami  Conference,  where  he  since 
that  date  has  been  constantly  engaged  in  ministerial  work. 
He  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  preacher  and  as  a  pastor,  and 
was  much  sought  for  on  funeral  and  other  special  occasions. 

He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War. 

He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  July  7,  1842.  Septem- 
ber 10,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Boughner.  Their 
two  sons,  William  and  George,  came  at  once  to  this  city  on 
receiving  word  as  to  their  father's  illness. 

Special  memorial  services  will  be  held  at  Summit  Street 
church  at  8:30  Wednesday  morning,  at  which  suitable 
addresses  will  be  made  by  a  number  of  his  ministerial  asso- 
ciates. 

A  special  traction  car  will  at  once  take  the  casket, 
accompanied   by  a   large   company  of   friends,  to   German- 


town  where  the  regular  funeral  services  will  be  conducted, 
beginning  at  10:30  the  same  forenoon.  The  interment 
will  be  at  Germantown,  where  for  a  number  of  years  the 
family  of  the  deceased  resided. 

From  Dayton  Daily  Journal,  November  15,  1905. 

The  funeral  services  of  the  late  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert  will 
be  held  this  morning  at  8:30  o'clock  at  the  Summit  Street 
United  Brethren  Church.  Rev.  Burkert  was  presiding 
elder  of  United  Brethren  District,  and  also  Secretary  of 
the  United  Brethren  Publishing  Company.  All  of  the 
bishops  and  clergy  of  the  United  Brethren  Chtu-ch  will  be 
in   attendance   and  take   part  in  the   services. 

The  family  and  friends  will  accompany  the  remains 
to  Germantown,  his  former  home,  where  the  interment 
will  take  place.  Two  extra  traction  cars  will  be  in  readi- 
ness for  those  who  wish  to  attend.  The  Old  Guard  Post, 
of  Da3rton,  with  a  firing  squad,  will  accompany  the  re- 
mains to  his  old  home  at  Germantown,  where  they  will  be 
met  by  the  Carlton  Bear  Post  and   the    I.  O.  O.  F.  Lodge. 

Rev.  Burkert  was  greatly  beloved  and  respected  in 
Germantown,  where  he  had  lived  for  so  many  years.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  at  Germantown,  and 
had  been  transferred,  a  month  since,  to  the  Old  Guard 
Post,  of  Dayton.  They  were  to  have  made  him  chaplain 
of  their  post  at  their  meeting  tonight. 

From  Dayton  Daily  Journal,  November  16,  1905. 

Shortly  after  noon  today  the  remains  of  the  Rev.  C. 
J.  Burkert,  a  Presiding  Elder  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
and  one  of  the  best  beloved  ministers,  was  laid  to  rest  in 
the  pretty  little   cemetery  at  Germantown. 

At  an  early  hour  this  morning  the  body  was  removed 
from  the  late  home  to  the  Summit  Street  United  Brethren 
Church,  which  the  deceased  had  served  five  years  as  pastor, 
and  many  friends  took  their  last  look  at  his  familiar  fea- 
tures before  the  hour  set  for  the  service,  which  was  8:30. 
The  capacity  of  the  edifice  was  taxed  by  the  large  com- 
pany  which   gathered   to   pay  their  respects   to   the   dead. 


All  Union  Biblical  Students  attended  in  a  body.  All  the 
United  Brethren  preachers  of  Dayton  and  vicinity  were 
present,  as  were  also  a  number  of  ministers  from  other  de- 
nominations representing  the  Ministerial  Association. 
Rev.  P.  M.  Camp  had  charge  of  the  services,  which  were 
as  follows: 

Rev.  H.  H.  Fout  read  the  Scripture  lesson,  and  Rev. 
J.  W.  Shuey  led  in  prayer.  A  biographical  sketch  was 
read  by  Rev.  G.  P.  Macklin,  and  Rev.  William  McKee  told 
of  Rev.  Burkert's  life  in  conference.  Rev.  Dr.  Funkhouser 
paid  tribute  to  the  deceased  as  a  pastor,  and  as  a  worker 
in  the  conference.  Rev.  Dr.  Funk,  of  the  United  Brethren 
Publishing  House,  told  of  his  excellent  work  on  the  Board 
of  Directors. 

The  pallbearers  were  Rev.  Dr.  H.  A.  Thompson,  Rev. 
W.  J.  Pruner,  Dr.  Kephart,  Ed.  U.  B.  Tel.,  Dr.  J.  P.  Miller, 
Rev.   Holtzinger  and  Rev.  H.  H.  Fout,  D.  D. 

Music  was  rendered  by  a  quartet  composed  of  Ray 
Upson,  Charles  Fairman,  Mrs.  Fred  Funkhouser  and  Mrs. 
Anderson.     Mrs.    Hendershott,    accompanist. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  service  at  the  church,  two 
special  traction  cars  conveyed  the  remains  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  friends  to  Germantown  over  the  Cincinnati  North- 
em,  arriving  there  at  11:30  o'clock,  at  the  United  Brethren 
church,  where  a  brief  service  was  held.  Bishop  W.  M. 
Weekley  delivered  an  eloquent  eulogy,  taking  for  his  text, 
"For  He  Was  a  Good  Man."  Revs.  Niswonger,  Landis,  Mayne 
and  Swain  also  assisted  in  the  service.  At  the  grave,  the 
Odd  Fellows  and  Old  Guard  Post  G.  A.  R.  conducted  their 
ritual  services.  Rev.  Burkert  was  for  many  years  a  mem- 
ber of  Carlton  Bear  Post  at  Germantown,  and  only  re- 
cently had  transferred  his  membership  to  Old  Guard  Post 
in  Dayton.  The  funeral  was  the  largest  ever  held  in  Ger- 
mantown. 

From  Dayton  Daily  News,  November  13,  1905. 

Death  came  with  almost  startling  suddenness  Sunday 
morning  to  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert,  prominent  minister  of  the 


United  Brethren  Church,  at  his  home  on  Summit  street. 
The  announcement  of  his  death  proved  a  great  shock  to 
a  host  of  friends  and  among  church  people  genuine  regret 
was  expressed,  and  there  was  deep  sorrow  evinced  at  the 
passing  away  of  one  who  was  so  earnest  and  so  conscien- 
tious in  his  work  for  religion  and  the  United  Brethren  in- 
terests. 

Two  weeks  ago  he  preached  two  services,  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  he  was  at  that  time  suffering  from  a 
carbuncle  on  his  neck.  He  became  seriously  ill  from  it 
although  few  persons  were  aware  of  his  true  condition  until 
they  were  startled  by  the  announcement  of  his  death  Sun- 
day morning. 

Three  months  ago  he  closed  a  very  successful  five- 
year  pastorate  of  Summit  Street  United  Brethren  church, 
and  since  then  was  not  in  charge  of  any  church.  He  had 
previously  served  pastorates  at  Germantown,  Springfield 
and  other  places.  He  was  entering  upon  his  fifteenth  year 
as   presiding   elder   of   the    Miami    conference. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  United  Brethren  Publishing  House,  and 
a  director  in  the  Union  Biblical  seminary.  He  was  four 
times  a  delegate  to  the  general  conference  of  his  church, 
and  it  is  said  that  in  forty-six  years  he  never  missed  a  meet- 
ing of  the   general   conference   of  his  church. 

Rev.  Burkert  entered  the  ministry  in  1865  in  Indiana 
and  a  short  time  after  became  a  member  of  the  Miami  con- 
ference. He  was  always  a  faithful,  earnest  worker  and 
one  who  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him. 
As  pastor  of  the  Summit  Street  Church  he  won  the  hearts 
of  his  congregation  and  his  death  touches  deeply  the  mem- 
bers of  that  church  in   particular. 

He  was  bom  in  Pennsylvania,  July  7,  1842.  On  Sep- 
tember 10,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Boughner. 
Two  sons,  William,  of  Evansville  and  George,  of  Rich- 
mond, survive  their  father.  They  were  at  their  father's  bed- 
side when  the  end  came.  The  deceased  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  civil  war. 


Funeral  services  will  be  held  at  the  Summit  Street 
United  Brethren  church  Wednesday  morning  at  8:30,  and 
addresses  will  be  made.  A  special  traction  car  will  take 
the  remains  and  the  funeral  party  to  Germantown,  where 
the  regular  funeral  services  will  be  held  and  the  burial  take 
place. 

From  Germantown   Herald,   Nov.    17,   1905. 

The  announcement  of  the  death  of  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert, 
loved  and  honored  by  our  citizens  and  his  church,  was  a 
great  shock  to  his  many  friends  and  acquaintances  last  Sun- 
day morning. 

He  was  suffering  from  a  carbuncle  on  the  back  of  his 
neck,  which  became  more  and  more  malignant  wearing  on 
his  already  reduced  strength,  inducing  at  last  heart  failure. 

Few  persons  were  aware  that  he  was  seriously  ill  until 
the  announcement  of  his  death,  Sunday  morning  at  seven 
o'clock. 

Having  made  Germantown  his  home  for  so  long,  pre- 
viously acting  as  pastor  of  the  United  Brethren  church  and 
a  member  of  our  Board  of  Education,  he  had  endeared 
himself  to  all  by  his  splendid  Christian  character,  noble 
manhood  and   knightly    courtesy. 

Rev.  Burkert  had  just  completed  a  very  successful  four- 
year  pastorate  at  Summit  Street  United  Brethren  church  and 
having  been  elected  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Dayton  district, 
was  looking  forward  to  a  very  successful  year.  This  would 
have  been  his  fifteenth  year  in  that  capacity.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  United  Brethren 
Publishing  House  and  a  director  of  the  Union  Biblical 
Seminary  and  four  times  delegate  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence. 

Rev.  Burkert  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  July  7,  1842. 
He  served  with  credit  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War  and  on 
September  10,  1867  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Boughner. 
They  possess  two  splendid  sons,  George,  of  Richmond,  and 
William,  of  Evansville,  both  holding  a  high  place  in  the 
regard  of  all  who  know  them. 


On  Wednesday  morning  special  memorial  services 
were  held  at  Summit  St.  church  at  which  time  addresses 
were   made   by   a  number  of  his  ministerial   associates. 

Two  special  cars  were  employed  to  convey  the  casket 
and  friends  to  Germantown  where  the  regular  services  were 
conducted  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Swain,  and  Rev.  Niswonger, Bishop 
W.  M.  Weekley  preaching  the  sermon. 

The  large  church  was  entirely  too  small  to  hold  the 
many  friends  who  came  to  pay  their  last  tribute  of  love  and 
respect. 

The  local  G.  A.  R.  and  Old  Guard  Post  of  Dayton, 
with  several  members  of  Miamisburg  and  a  large  representa- 
tion of  Franklin  Lodges,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  conducted  their  im- 
pressive   ritual    at    the    grave. 

Thus  passes  a  good  man  from  among  us,  who  will  ever 
live  in  our  memories  as  long  as  time  shall  last. 

The  family  have  the  deep  sympathy  of  the  entire  com- 
munity and  the  assurance  that  "His  rest  will  be  sweet  at 
our  Master's  feet." 

From  the  Religious  Telescope,  November  15,  1905, 

It  almost  seems  wrong  to  say  that  the  Rev.  C.  J.  Bur- 
kert  is  dead.  He  passed  peacefully  away  into  the  heaven 
land  Sunday  morning,  November  12,  1905,  at  7  o'clock. 
His  home  going  was  calm,  without  a  physical  or  mental 
struggle.  The  heart  that  had  been  growing  weak  for  the 
past  years  could  not  rally  under  the  strain  that  came  from 
the  suffering  caused  by  a  malignant  carbuncle  on  the  back 
of  his  neck.  For  nearly  two  weeks  he  suffered  much,  in 
patience  and  hope,  but  the  few  last  days  of  his  life  the  suf- 
ferings were  light  and  he  gradually  sank  into  the  shadow 
of  death,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath,  passed  through 
the  gate  into  the  city. 

He  was  a  rare  man.  All  who  knew  him  loved  him. 
Strong  in  personality,  keen  in  intellect,  he  held  a  high 
place  in  the   affairs  of  his  church. 

In  his  conference  (the  Miami),  he  was  a  leader.  In 
the  general  Church,  a  legislator  and  wise  coimselor. 


He  died  with  the  whole  armor  on.  He  was  a  presiding 
elder  in  his  conference,  having  been  elected  at  the  recent 
session  held  at  Eaton,  Ohio.  This  office  came  to  him  after 
a  five  years'  successful  pastorate  of  our  Summit  Street 
Church,  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  was  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  United  Brethren  Publishing  House  for  over 
four  years,  having  been  elected  to  serve  for  a  second  term 
at  the  late  session  of  the  board,  at  Topeka,  Kansas.  He 
was  also  chairman  of  the  local  committee  of  the  Publishing 
House.  He  with  Mr.  S.  E.  Ktmiler  and  Prof.  S.  D.  Faust, 
D.  D.  formed  the  inner  circle  of  advisors  to  the  Agent,  and 
upon  them  the  Agent  called  for  counsel  and  advice  at  any 
time. 

Brother  Burkert,  Mr.  Kumler  and  Dr.  Faust  were  the 
committee  of  the  board  that  stood  with  the  Agent  in  the 
rebuilding  of  the  manufacturing  plant  and  were  with  him 
in  the  planning  and  erection  of  the  great  office  building. 
Brother  Burkert  was  always  interested  and  helpful  in  his 
relation  to  the  work  of  the  committee  and  the  board. 

He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  Union  Biblical  Seminary  and  his  judgment  and  help- 
fulness are  testified  to  by  his  co-workers  in  that  depart- 
ment. It  can  be  seen  therefore  at  a  glance  that  his  was 
a  very  important  life.  He  lived  it  well.  He  did  his  whole 
duty.  He  died  in  full  service,  every  part  of  which  was 
freely  given.  We  shall  miss  him  much.  The  church  has 
lost  a  strong  man,  his  family  a  devoted  husband  and  father, 
and  society  a  good  citizen. 

These  words  are  written  as  an  appreciation  of  his  worth 
as  the  head  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  this  great  institu- 
tion. A  complete  history  of  his  life  will  appear  later  in  the 
columns  of  the  Telescope.  We  all  sorrow  at  his  going  from 
us,  but  rejoice  in  his  eternal  triumph. 

W.  R.  FUNK. 
From  Dayton  Evening  Herald,  November  \2>th  and  lAth,  1905. 

The  spirit  of  one  of  Dayton's  noblest  Christian  men 
was  called  home  Sunday  morning,  when  at  7  o'clock  the 
death  of  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert  occurred  at  his  home,  207  North 


Kee  will  speak  of  his  relation  to  the  Miami  conference;  Dr. 
W.  R.  Funk  will  tell  of  his  relations  to  the  United  Brethren 
Publishing  Company,  and  Dr.  G.  A.  Funkhouser  will  speak 
of  his  relations  to  the  United  Brethren  Seminary  and  to 
the  local  church. 

At  9:30  prompt  special  traction  cars  will  convey  the 
remains  and  the  family  and  many  friends  to  Germantown, 
where  the  regular  funeral  service  will  be  conducted.  Rev. 
J.  L.  Swain  will  have  charge  of  that  service  and  Bishop 
Weekley  will  preach  the  sermon  and  will  be  assisted  by 
Dr.  J.  P.  Landis.  Interment  will  be  made  at  Germantown 
and  the  G.  A.  R.  and  I.  O.  O.  F.  will  have  part  in  the  ser- 
vices at  the  grave. 

From  Minutes  of  Ninety-Seventh  Annual  Session,  Miami 
Conference,  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  held  in 
Brookville,    Ohio,    August    15-20,    1906. 

Rev.  J.  L.  Swain  read  a  paper  on  the  life  of  Rev.  C. 
J.  Burkert,  for  thirty-eight  years  the  efficient  secretary 
of  this  Conference,  who  was  promoted  to  the  realms  of  glory 
Sunday,    November    12,    1905. 

Rev.  Cyrus  J.  Burkert  was  born  at  Rebersburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, July  7,  1842,  and  died  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1905.  His  educational  advantages  consisted  of 
attendance  at  the  public  school  of  his  native  village,  sup- 
plemented by  a  course  in  a  select  school  and  a  short  course 
in  a  Lutheran  theological  seminary.  He  removed  to  East 
Germantown,  Indiana,  in  1862.  He  enlisted  in  the  54th 
Indiana  Regiment  of  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  in  1862.  His  regiment 
was  sent  to  Kentucky  in  August  of  the  same  year,  where, 
through  exposure  while  on  picket  duty,  be  became  sick 
and  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Louisville,  where  he  re- 
mained for  several  weeks.  He  was  mustered  out  and  hon- 
orably dischagred  at  Indianapolis,  September  25,  1862. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of  Old  Guard 
Post,  G.  A.  R.  of  Dayton.     He  was  previously  a  member 


U      B.    CHURCH.    REBERSBURG,    PA. 

WHERE    REV.    BURKERT    PREACHED    HIS    FIRST 

SERMON    AT    17    YEARS 


BIRTH    PLACE    AND    HOME    OF    PARENTS 
REBERSBURG,    PA. 


of  Carlton  Bear  Post,  of  Germantown.  After  his  dis- 
charge from  the  service  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 
a  time. 

He  became  a  member  of  the  White  River  Conference 
at  its  session  of  1865,  and  received  a  transfer  from  it  at  the 
same  session  to  Miami  Conference,  and  was  received  into 
this  Conference  on  his  transfer  at  its  session  at  West  Sonora, 
September  7,  1865.  He  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  secretaries 
of  the  Conference  at  its  session  in  Pyrmont,  August  20, 
1868,  and  served  as  its  Secretary  continuously  until  his 
death,  a  period  of  thirty-seven  years.  As  a  secretary  he 
had  no  superiors  and  few  equals  in  the  Church.  His  re- 
cords of  the  daily  proceedings  very  rarely  needed  correct- 
ing. He  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  an  elder  by  Bishop 
Edwards  at  the  session  of  this  Conference  at  Pyrmont  on 
Sabbath,  August  24,  1868.  He  served  the  following  charges 
in  the  order  named:  Liberty,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Cincinnati, 
Germantown,  New  Haven,  Beavertown,  Lewisburg,  Spring- 
field, Vandalia  and  Summit  Street.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  serving  his  fourteenth  year  as  presiding  elder. 

Brother  Burkert  received  839  members  into  the  Church 
on  the  charges  he  served.  He  was  a  man  of  polished  man- 
ners, polite  and  pleasing  in  his  associations  with  all.  His 
winning  ways  made  friends  of  all  classes.  As  a  preacher 
he  was  clear  and  pleasing  in  his  pulpit  efforts.  His  delivery 
was  excellent  and  his  style  attractive.  He  made  thorough 
and  careful  preparation  for  his  pulpit,  and  thereby  main- 
tained a  high  and  uniform  standard  of  pulpit  work.  As  a 
pastor  he  was  a  success.  His  visits  to  the  homes  of  the 
people  were  greatly  appreciated  by  all,  and  by  his  agree- 
able and  kindly  manner  won  the  affections  of  old  and  young 
alike.  His  services  were  much  sought  for  on  funeral  occa- 
sions because  of  his  aptness  in  ministering  to  the  sorrowing. 
As  a  writer  of  obituaries  he  had  few  equals.  He  was  a  man 
of  one  work,  giving  himself  unreservedly  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  He  could  say,  "This  one  thing  I  do."  He 
died  in  the  harness.     His  sickness  that  terminated  in  his 


death  was  of  short  duration.  He  held  his  last  quarterly 
meeting  on  the  Rosewood  charge  on  October  29,  preaching 
twice  on  Sunday,  and  in  two  weeks  from  that  day,  Sunday 
morning,  November  12,  he  entered  into  rest.  "There  re- 
maineth  therefore,  a  rest  for  the  people  of  God." 

In  the  death  of  Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert  this  Conference 
has  lost  one  of  its  most  useful  and  valued  members,  his 
wife,  a  devoted  husband,  and  his  sons  a  faithful  father. 
In  his  wife.  Brother  Burkert  had  a  helpmeet  indeed-.  He 
manifested  his  confidence  in  her  ability  as  a  financier  by 
intrusting  the  financial  management  of  the  home  largely 
to  her,  and  in  his  will  by  committing  the  management  of 
his  estate  entirely  to  her.  We  assure  Sister  Burkert  and 
her  sons  of  our  sympathy  and  prayers  in  this  great  sorrow 
that  has  come  to  them.  May  He  who  is  a  husband  to  the 
widow  and  a  father  to  the  fatherless  put  around  about 
them  the  arms  of  his  sympathy  and  love. 

"Oh,  how  sweet  it  will  be  in  that  beautiful  land, 

So  free  from  all  sorrow  and  pain. 
With  songs  on  otir  lips  and  with  harps  in  our  hands, 

To   meet   one   another   again." 

J.  L.  SWAIN. 

Wm.  McKee  followed  with  a  paper  on  the  general 
characteristics  of  the  life  and  ministry  of  Brother  Burkert. 

CHARACTER  AND  WORK  OF  REV.  C.  J.  BURKERT. 

Rev.  C.  J.  Burkert  was  a  man  whose  biography  would 
very  largely  recite  the  history  of  Miami  Conference  for  the 
third  of  a  century.  His  life  and  labors  were  so  interwoven 
with  the  benevolent,  educational  and  missionary  enter- 
prises of  the  Conference  that  you  cannot  select  a  chapter 
or  a  page,  or  a  year  in  the  history  of  its  efforts  without  en- 
coimtering  the  advice,  co-operation,  and  labor  of  this  faith- 
ful man  of  God.  For  this  reason  it  seems  meet  that  a  de- 
scription of  the  man  slightly  more  definite  than  was  fitting 
at   his   funeral   should   be   given. 


Dress. — In  his  dress  Mr.  Burkert  was  always  neat, 
plain,  and  clean.  It  could  never  be  said  that  he  was  loud, 
or  vain,  or  extravagant,  or  foppish  on  the  one  hand,  or 
that  he  was  neglectful,  or  slovenly,  or  even  odd,  on  the 
other.  He  was  always  the  same  well-dressed  gentleman, 
but  modest  and  welcome  in  any  company  of  respectable 
people.  He  followed  Washington's  rule,  "In  your  dress 
be   modest,    always    consulting   your   circumstances." 

Manners. — I  doubt  if  he  ever  read  Chesterfield,  or 
any  similar  publication,  but  he  was  himself  a  whole  volume 
on  good  manners.  He  made  one  of  a  company,  never  dis- 
turbing others,  never  trying  to  assume  the  role  of  a  leader 
or  controller  and  never  shrinking  from  any  part  that  might 
be  expected  of  him.  Not  pompous  or  manifesting  superior 
dignity,  either  of  word  or  manner,  nor  descending  into 
unseemly  hilarity  or  undue  familiarity  with  any  one  or 
any  company,  he  yet  was  a  favorite  of  all  who  enjoyed  his 
acquaintance.  In  his  home,  in  his  social  gatherings,  in 
business  meeting,  in  the  Annual  and  General  conferences, 
he  was  the  same  affable,  courteous,  and  approachable  brother. 
We  traveled  and  wrought  together  for  forty  years,  and  if, 
in  all  that  time,  he  ever  uttered  a  foul  word  or  breathed  a 
lewd  fling,  or  repeated  a  vulgar  story,  I  fail  to  remember 
it.     He  was  the  embodiment  of  a  noble  Christian  gentleman. 

Musical. — In  his  work  as  a  minister,  he  made  himself 
doubly  useful  by  the  gift  of  song.  This  was  specially  notice- 
able in  the  earlier  years  of  his  ministry,  when  the  preacher 
was  expected  every  year  to  hold  five  or  six  protracted  meet- 
ings covering  a  period  of  two  to  four  weeks  each.  The  sing- 
ing made  up  a  large  part  of  every  service.  And  this,  let 
the  reader  remember,  was  before  the  organ  found  its  way 
into  our  churches.  Only  a  few  congregations,  while  he 
was  serving  circuits,  had,  or  would  tolerate  the  organ.  Now 
and  then  he  would  find  a  leader  on  whom  he  could  depend, 
but  often  he  was  obliged  to  lead  the  singing  from  first  to 
last.  And  this  he  did,  not  grudgingly,  but  freely,  gladly, 
so  that  his  people  were  always  sure  of  good  music  when 
Brother  Burkert  was  their  pastor;    and  many  a  soul  was 


literally  sung  into  the  kingdom  by  the  melody  of  his  songs. 
This  gift  of  song  is  a  rare  talent  in  any  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel;   to  Mr.  Burkert  it  was  one  of  unsurpassed  usefulness. 

An  Economist. — Mr.  Burkert  lived  within  his  means. 
The  reader  need  not  be  told  that  economy  is  a  necessity  with 
the  United  Brethren  preacher.  He  husbanded  his  re- 
sources. He  rarely  made  debts.  If  he  did,  he  paid  them 
— paid  them  on  time.  If  payment  was  delayed,  be  ex- 
plained and  made  everything  satisfactory  to  his  creditor. 
And  so  he  always  had  credit;  with  or  without  money  he  got 
what  he  needed.  Nobody  suspected  he  would  make  an 
improper  use  of  money,  or  doubted  that  he  would  return 
a  credit  in  due  time.  And  so,  on  a  small  salary  and  repeated 
removals,  he  maintained  his  family  with  credit  and  left 
his  widow   a  competence  when  he  was  called  away. 

-  -  Executive  Ability. — Mr.  Burkert  was  an  executive  of 
no  mean  ability.  In  a  conversation  concerning  the  way 
he  managed  the  affairs  of  the  Church  as  intrusted  to  his 
care,  a  brother  once  remarked,  "He  would  make  a  good 
governor  of  the  State."  And  so  he  would  if  he  had  turned 
his  attention  to  political  affairs.  He  was  continually  elected 
as  Secretary  of  the  Conference  because  he  took  care  of  every- 
thing. Three-fourths  of  the  motions  and  resolutions  of 
Conference  were  made  verbally,  the  mover  not  thinking 
or  caring  at  the  time  how  it  would  afterward  appear.  The 
Secretary  was  always  on  the  alert,  and  rarely  failed  to  "catch 
the  motion"  and  put  it  in  shape  so  it  would  properly  express 
the  thought  of  the  mover  and  the  purpose  of  the  Conference. 
Very  few  knew  or  cared  what  constant  vigilance  this  re- 
quired. On  reading  the  minutes  over  for  approval,  it  was 
a  rare  thing  if  anything  had  been  omitted  or  needed  cor- 
rection. On  final  adjournment,  he  was  intrusted  with 
the  arrangement  and  publication  of  the  Minutes  without 
question,  every  one  believing  that  the  work  would  be  satis- 
factorily done.  And  so  it  was.  It  is  questionable  whether 
another  conference  in  the  Church  has  so  complete  and  accu- 
rate a  history  of  its  transactions  as  the  Miami  Conference. 


Mr.  Burkert  was  one  of  the  chief  counselors  in  the 
organization  and  maintenance  of  the  Mutual  Beneficial 
Society,  whose  helpfulness  at  a  time  when  families  most  need 
help  is  of  incalculable  value.  By  the  payment  of  a  very  small 
annual  fee,  each  member  is  entitled  to  $150  at  the  time  of 
his  decease.  Ministers  and  their  wives  are  both  entitled 
to  membership.  But  for  Mr.  Burkert's  influence  and 
managing  quality,  it  is  doubtful  if  any  such  beneficent  pro- 
vision  would    have    been    called   into   operation  to  this  day. 

Again  he  also  took  the  lead  in  the  organization  of  the 
Conference  Church  Extension  Society  as  a  means  of  more 
effectually  carrying  forward  mission  work  within  the  terri- 
torial limits  of  the  Conference.  This  organization  is  already 
bearing  fruit  in  Cincinnati,  Dayton,  Hamilton,  and  else- 
where, and  is  destined  to  quicken  the  zeal  and  double  the 
work  of  church  building  and  the  gathering  of  congrega- 
tions within  the  Conference  limits  in  the  near  future.  It 
will  thus  be  seen  that  he  was  always  thinking  and  planning 
how  to  improve  and  strengthen  the  Conference,  to  the  end 
that  the  kingdom  of  God  should  be  enlarged.  His  reports 
to  Conference  show  that  no  item  on  the  chart  was  forgotten. 
He  made  his  collections,  moreover,  so  smoothly  and  seem- 
ingly so  easily,  that  nobody  was  troubled  about  it — no- 
body complained.  If,  however,  any  one  covild  have  read 
his  thinking  as  well  as  they  heard  his  words  and  saw  his  ac- 
tions, it  would  probably  not  have  seemed  such  an  easy 
task. 

Consecrated  to  His  work. — All  his  gifts,  acquirements, 
time  and  energies  were  laid  on  the  altar.  He  kept  nothing 
back.  He  had  no  side  issues.  He  was  single-minded. 
He  knew  nothing  but  Christ  crucified,  the  Savior  of  sinners. 
He  had  neither  time  nor  inclination  to  go  prowling  about 
for  some  new  notion,  or  criticism  of  this  or  that  book  of 
the  Bible,  or  even  a  chapter.  He  accepted  it  as  God's 
book  and  spent  his  time  trying  to  learn  and  teach  the  people 
what  God  had  revealed.  In  his  inmost  soul  he  believed 
that  God  had  called  him  to  preach  the  gospel,  and,  like 
Paul,  from  the  first  he  "conferred  not  with  flesh  and  blood," 


but  set  himself  to  perform  the  work  God  had  given  him. 
And  herein  is  the  source  of  his  success.  Everybody  wanted 
him.  Not  a  charge  in  the  Conference  but  would  have  re- 
joiced to  hear  his  name  announced  as  its  pastor.  They 
knew  he  had  no  other  work  or  task,  or  purpose  to  divide 
his  mind.  He  would  be  a  preacher  only,  their  preacher. 
He  would  not  be  endeavoring  to  conduct  a  store,  operate 
a  manufactory,  or  manage  a  farm,  while  he  gave  them  the 
fag  end  of  his  strength  and  thought.  And  they  were  not 
disappointed.  Whether  he  ministered  at  the  bedside  of 
some  sufferer,  or  conducted  the  funeral  rites  of  some  de- 
parted saint,  or  preached  a  sermon  to  his  people  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  he  was  always  the  man  of  God  ministering  in 
holy  things  to  the  comfort  and  edification  of  the  flock  of 
God. 

A  Good  Sermonizer. — Mr.  Burkert  was  a  prince  among 
preachers.  In  the  first  five  minutes  of  any  of  his  sermons 
he  showed  that  he  had  carefully  laid  out  his  work;  that  he 
had  a  thought  which  he  intended  to  argue,  illustrate,  and 
fasten  on  the  minds  and  hearts  of  his  hearers.  While  he 
was  not  so  argumentative  as  Edwards  or  so  rhetorical  as 
Beecher,  he  was  very  attractive,  persuasive,  convincing. 
While  not  entirely  original,  (very  few  are)  he  was  fresh, 
clear,  spiritual,  and  his  hearers  often  said,  "That  was  a 
good  sermon;  he  fed  our  souls."  And  this  was  the  highest 
compliment  that  cotdd  be  paid  him.  He  preached  not 
first  or  chiefly  to  please  or  entertain  the  people,  but  to 
arrest  their  attention,  show  them  their  sins  and  point  them 
to  the  great  Physician,  who  alone  can  heal  the  malady  of 
their  souls.  He  did  not  think  that  a  doctor's  medicines 
are  rendered  any  more  effective  by  being  more  nauseous 
than  needful,  and  so  he  did  not  think  a  preacher  gained 
anything  by  calling  the  people  liars,  thieves,  drunkards, 
murderers,  or  in  any  way  abusing  them  from  the  pulpit, 
any  more  than  he  believed  that  to  act  the  clown  or  con- 
tinually jest  and  tell  foolish  and  trifling  stories  for  their 
amusement  would  be  at  all  beneficial.  He  was  a  serious 
man,  engaged  in  a  serious  business,  and  he  plainly  set  forth 


the  way  of  salvation.  This  he  did  in  a  plain,  persuasive, 
scriptural  manner,  always  showing,  without  telling  it  over 
and  over,  that  he  had  a  deep  yearning  for  the  welfare  of 
the  people  to  whom  he  ministered.  He  showed,  as  he  be- 
lieved, that  while  a  preacher  may  do  much  good  by  visiting 
the  members  of  his  flock,  especially  the  afflicted,  singing, 
and  attending  to  the  business  affairs  of  the  church,  he  must 
first  and  most  of  all  be  a  preacher  of  the  Word.  He  must 
"preach  the  word,"  divide  the  word,"  "make  the  message 
plain,"  showing  emphatically  that  it  is  God's  word,  and 
not  man's  that  he  proclaims.  All  the  helps  to  his  ministry 
will  not  avail  unless  he  is  an  earnest  preacher.  A  dinner 
of  salt  and  pepper  and  other  spices  will  make  a  poor  meal. 
It  must  have  meat.  Those  are  helpful;  this  is  essential. 
So  Mr.  Burkert  believed  and  practiced.  His  sermon  was 
the  meat  of  his  daily  fare.  It  cost  him  the  dearest  time 
and  thought  of  his  life.  His  sermons,  many  of  them  writ- 
ten out  at  full  length,  show  with  what  constant,  painstaking 
effort  they  were  prepared. 

All  in  all,  he  was  an  ideal  minister.  Not  perfect,  not 
the  greatest  or  best  that  ever  lived,  yet  he  followed  Christ 
with  an  earnest  desire  to  fulfill  his  mission,  and  we  would 
do  well   to  imitate  him  is  so  far  as  he  followed  the   Master. 

Wm.  McKEE. 

Rev  J.    D.   Holtzinger  spoke  of  his  tenderness  as  a 
pastor,    his    strength    as    a    preacher. 

The  Conference  Quartet  tenderly  sang,  "I  have  heard 
of  a  far-away  land."' 

Dr.  H.  H.  Fout  spoke  of  his  helpfulness  as  a  personal 
friend  and  brother. 

Dr.    H.   A.   Thompson  spoke  of  his  resourcefulness   as 
a  pastor   and  his  tactfulness  in  dealing  with  men. 
W.  R.  Funk,  at  Memorial,  Summit  Street. 

The  character  of  our  Brother  was  very  beautiful.  As 
an  associate  he  was  most  delightful.  His  manner  was 
charming.  His  thought  was  always  pure,  and  his  words 
were  kind  and  gracious.  The  diamond  is  interesting  be- 
cause of  its  inherent  power.     It  can  not  help  but  shine  and 


sparkle  because  it  has  the  fire  in  it.  But  there  is  another 
way  in  which  our  Brother  was  Hke  the  diamond.  It  shines 
from  whatever  angle  you  view  it.  So  the  life  of  Brother 
Burkert  is  beautiful,  it  matters  not  from  which  direction 
you  approach  it. 

He  was  a  wise  counsellor  in  the  affairs  of  the  great 
institution  with  which  he  was  connected.  As  President 
of  the  Board  and  Chairman  of  the  Local  Committee,  he 
stood  for  the  advancement  of  the  work  of  the  church.  Care- 
ful indeed  in  the  affairs  of  the  House,  he,  nevertheless,  was 
not  a  brakeman  on  the  wheels,  nor  did  he  have  the  false 
notion  "rule  or  ruin."  He  stood  fairly  and  squarely  for  his 
opinion.  If  it  was  not  adopted,  he  acquiesced  and  worked 
on  just  the  same. 

His  great  candor  and  unswerving  fidelity  to  his  friends 
was  always  apparent.  Yet  in  no  case  would  he  condone 
wrong  in  any  one,  but,  with  Christian  love,  would  try  to 
restore  such  a  one. 

His  business  ability  was  recognized  and  was  very  evi- 
dent in  the  affairs  of  the  Publishing  House.  He,  with  Dr. 
S."  D.  Faust  and  Samuel  E.  Kumler,  Esq.,  stood  with  me 
in  the  planning  and  carrying  forward  the  building 
of  both  the  manufacturing  plant  and  the  Office  Building. 
He  was  always  calm,  and  with  keen  insight,  he  went  into 
the  problems  that  were  brought  before  him. 

I  shall  greatly  miss  him.  A  true  helper  and  constant 
friend — a  noble  man — has  left  us.  His  was  a  glorious 
life  and  a  tritmiphant  entrance  must  have  been  his  as  he 
entered  Heaven's  Gate. 


